Ladakhi Film: 'Kakthet' Secures INR40 Lakh for Production

Stenzin Tankyong’s debut feature, 'Kakthet,' has secured INR40 lakh (approximately $42,000) to move forward with production. The fund, operated by Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures, marks the first time this specific co-production grant has been awarded. The money will support the creation of a film set in the remote, high-altitude region of Ladakh and filmed entirely in the Ladakhi language.

The project was chosen from a pool of nearly 400 submissions. A jury reviewed the entries through an extended screening and evaluation process before selecting Tankyong’s script. The story focuses on a government school and its surrounding community, which rely on the survival of a single grade 10 student who has never passed an exam. His teachers must find a way to save the school by saving the one student who is determined not to be saved.

Tankyong has spent eight years documenting Ladakh’s culture and landscapes for international audiences. His short films, 'Sekool' (2019) and 'Last Days of Summer' (2023), have screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and the Dharamshala International Film Festival. For this feature, he is working with producers Ritu Sarin and Rajesh Thanickan, alongside French co-producers from La Belle Affaire Productions. Sarin co-founded White Crane Films and the Dharamshala International Film Festival, while Thanickan has executive produced recent titles including 'Homebound' and 'Our Share of Sand.'

The film had previously attracted industry attention by winning the Co-Production Features Grant at the 2025 WAVES Film Bazaar. It was also selected as one of 30 projects at the 2026 Asian Project Market, which took place alongside the Busan International Film Festival. The new fund is backed by mentorship from filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Shaunak Sen. Sen will also serve as executive producer on the winning project.

Harshit Bansal, founder of Humans of Cinema, noted that the volume of strong submissions from across the country confirmed the need for such initiatives in South Asia. He described Tankyong as an exciting new filmmaker with a distinct voice. Bhardwaj stated that stories like this demonstrate the importance of creating opportunities for voices outside the mainstream. Sen praised the script for its use of lightness and humor while maintaining sensitivity.

Tankyong said that independent filmmakers in India often struggle to find backing for stories rooted in specific regions and languages. He noted that support from within the country makes the recognition especially meaningful. The screenplay is currently in its fourth draft. In July 2026, the team completed a three-week recce across the Changthang region and Leh to scout locations and gather material for a proof-of-concept teaser. Principal cast, crew, and shooting locations are now in place as the team works to secure additional financing and build co-production ties across Asia, Australia, and Europe.